Lesser known, fewer bucks

Much of our attention lately has been focused on the top fall and winter transatlantic bargains: the Ireland fly-drives, the weeklong air and hotel packages to London, Paris and Rome for far less than you would have paid for air fare alone in summer.

But the same factors that have driven down prices to London, Paris, Ireland, Spain and Italy (Sept. 11 jitters and an economic slowdown at home) have also made best buys out of the more remote European destinations. Although they aren’t as cheap as the more renowned capitals, they’re still enormous values in the November-through-March period. Consider these deals in Turkey, Malta and Prague/Budapest.

Istanbul and a second Turkish city: For $855, Turkey specialist Pacha Tours, (800) 722-4288, www.pachatours.com, is offering a package that includes round-trip air on Turkish Airlines from LAX through Dec. 14 and from Jan. 4 to March 25. The trip includes a half-day Istanbul orientation tour and six nights in your choice of 18 Istanbul hotels, and one free round-trip ticket to a second city in Turkey -- the capital, Ankara, or the port city of Izmir. The only fine print is that you must book something in that second city through Pacha: a sightseeing tour or perhaps your hotel. (Rates start at $60.) Additional nights in Istanbul: from $30; single supplement, $60.

A week in Malta: Winter is a pleasant time in this colorful Mediterranean nation, a sun-drenched island between Sicily and Tunisia that enjoys a rich history to go with its beaches, castles and laid-back, economical lifestyle. Malta specialist Amelia International, (800) 742-4591, www.ameliainternational.com, has a six-night package for $864 including air transportation from LAX on Lufthansa, hotel and breakfast. The package is good through Feb. 20; it’s slightly higher from Feb. 21 to March 15. Additional nights run $21 to $26; single supplement is $126.

Prague and Budapest: You can hit two of Eastern Europe’s Baroque gems on one trip with this budget package from Paul Laifer Tours, (800) 346-6314, www.laifertours.com. For $951 from LAX, you get round-trip air on CSA Czech Airlines, all transfers in Europe (including the flight between Prague and Budapest), three nights’ accommodations in each city and two half-day city tours. The price is good through Dec. 10 (Dec. 11 to 26 is an extra $150), then again from Jan. 2 through March 31. Additional nights: $30 Prague, $35 Budapest; single supplement $150 to $160.